Three women in court over chadonha

Michael Mashiri

Three people who were stealing from people in the CBD have been denied bail.

Francisca Zhanda, 31, of Domboshava, Sylvia Gondo, 39, of Chitungwiza and Emilia Muriva, 26, of Chitungwiza, appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with fraud.

The complainant in this case is Ropafadzo Mauruka, 22, of Hatcliffe.

The State, through prosecutor Thomas Chanakira, alleges that on January 20, 2024, at around 1530 hour at corner Nelson Mandela and Mbuya Nehanda. Harare, Mauruka met the accused persons and was told by Muriva that she was well weaved and went to ask her were her hair was done and she told her that it was done in Hatcliffe.

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Mauruka fell prey to the old chadonha trick outside a boutique along Chinhoyi and past Jason Moyo, where she had been led.

Zhanda, Gondo and Muriva suggested giving Mauruka the said money so that she would share it equally.

After that, Muriva took Mauruka's US$267, which was in a wallet, a Samsung A42 and handed over socks with the said money.

Mauruka went in the shop and realised that the socks had been stuffed with papers but realised that the suspects had vanished when she went out of the shop.

She late got assistance from Tafadzwa Chidawo, who witnessed and filmed the whole occasion.

The total value which was stolen US$474.

A Samsung A42 was recovered.

The State also alleges that on December 9, 2023, complainant in this matter Lynette Nyamaropa, 27, was looking for clothes to buy in a shop between Leopold Takawira and Rezende Street, Harare, and was approached by Gondo and told her that there were cheaper shops along Cameroon Street.

Nyamaropa and Gondo walked together towards the said shop and when they were at Engen Service Station, Gondo told Zhanda had picked up some money.

Zhanda allegedly admitted picking the money and Gondo took the money and went into a nearby boutique to count it and returned, asking Nyamaropa to divide the US$700 and share it equally.

Nyamaropa then took the socks with the said money and went into a certain shop to count it after, leaving her Samsung A12 phone and US$80 with Zhanda.

It is alleged that Nyamaropa then opened the socks and discovered that there was no money and also realised that the accused persons had left.

Total value stolen was US$700 and nothing was recovered.

The court also heard that on November 6, 2023, along Park Street in Harare,

The complainant in this matter is Ellen Rukweza, 31, was approached by Zhanda, saying that Gondo had picked money in a shop.

It alleged that together with Zhanda they approached Gondo who then admitted that she picked money.

Zhanda was allegedly given the money to go and count it in a shop and gave her belongings to her accomplice.

Zhanda came back and said he had counted the money and it was US$150.

He then asked Rukweza to share the money equally and instructed her to leave her belongings with the accused persons.

Rukweza gave her wallet with US$200 and national ID.

When she entered in the shop, she opened a sock and discovered that there was no money but papers.

She then realised that she had been duped and nothing was recovered.

The State also alleges that on December 24, 2023, at corner Robert Mugabe and Sam Nujoma Street complainant, Joyline Marozva, 31, was approached by Gondo telling her that Muriva had picked some money.

It is alleged that Gondo then took socks from Muriva and went to a nearby shop, claiming that she was counting the money.

She then returned saying there was US$780 and they were supposed to share it equally.

The accused person gave complainant the socks and asked Marozva to go and take her share of US$200 and return the balance.

The accused persons insisted that complainant was supposed to left her belongings, which included Samsung A02 phone, US$85,10kg Mealie Meal, 2 litres cooking oil, 2litres of Mazowe, 2kg rice, a packet of amazon pops and various clothes before she entered a shop.

While in the shop she discovered that the socks had been stuffed with pieces of paper.

Marozva quickly rushed to check for the two accused persons but they had already left.

That is when she realised that she had been duped.

The total value which Marozva lost is US$300 and nothing was recovered.

The three were ordered to appear in court on January 24, for bail application.